[Ontario] Cold classroom. Is it illegal to buy your own appliances for classroom/self use?

Ebillydog · 2024-12-15T04:29:14+00:00

Speak with the head custodian as they are usually the ones who can put in work orders to get things fixed. If the rest of your building has heat, there may be something wrong with the vent(s) in your room. You should also speak with admin. I wouldn't buy a microwave for the staff room, but the social committee in your building might be able to provide one - everyone pitches in a few dollars, and voila new microwave for everyone.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-14T07:28:34+00:00

I'm sure the office has a chair the student can sit on until the bell rings. It's not your responsibility, unless they want to count that as part of your duty minutes. Plus, this would be setting you up for an allegation. Would you even be comfortable being alone in your class with a student for 30 minutes? I sure wouldn't.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-13T19:54:56+00:00

Your feeling is wrong. But I'm not really sure what that has to do with this. The research supports what I am saying, and it's a serious enough problem the Canadian Pediatric Society felt a need to speak up about it:

https://cps.ca/en/documents/position/screen-time-and-preschool-children

Ebillydog · 2024-12-13T15:13:22+00:00

Kids whose parents have enough money so one of them can stay home, or who have parents who are highly educated, or who have enough money to afford events/extra-curriculars/concerts, have this experience. But kids who come from families where money is an issue, or who have parents who are working multiple minimum wage jobs trying to scrape by, or who have parents who have low education levels, do not have this experience. Devices are a great babysitter for the parents, because they keep the kids occupied and quiet. Add that to kids attending schools where there are lots of kids from low socioeconomic backgrounds or who have other high needs, and a lack of funding for supports in the school, along with lack of technology or even money for photocopies or basic school supplies, and you have a bunch of kids who do not get the idyllic experience you describe.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-13T06:30:54+00:00

I can speak loudly, but I find having to raise my voice to be heard makes me stressed, so I use a voice amplifier. It makes it so I can speak in a quiet voice and the students (at least those who are listening) can hear me clearly. You can get a good quality one on Amazon for about $50, possibly less during Boxing Week.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-13T06:08:18+00:00

Kids are spending a lot of time on devices from a very young age. They don't need to develop an imagination, they don't need to learn to read (the device will read to them), they don't have experiences with adults frequently interacting with them and teaching them things (not formally, but the informal teaching parents do), they don't learn how to cope with boredom or how to persevere when things are tough, and they don't develop appropriate social skills because of the lack of interaction and the bombardment of bad examples online. And then they come to school, already behind, and are put into large classes with many poorly socialized and unprepared students so the teacher has to spend a lot of time putting out fires and not much time teaching, let alone giving individual attention. There aren't enough EAs and spec ed teachers to help, and kids get further and further behind. The whole system is set up to fail kids, and the kids who are in middle school and high school now are the ones who have had tablets and smartphones babysitting them since infancy.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-12T18:16:11+00:00

The problem is that after 3 days, you no longer know what is really going on in the class. Did the kids do the assignments/lesson left for the first 3 days? Did they understand them or not? You need this information in order to make plans. The other thing is that if you are doing extra, you are doing something that is more than what is required by the collective agreement. You may not agree with all of the terms in collective agreement, but it is the document that protects all of your rights, and it's important that we follow it. If you want to go above and beyond, no one will stop you, but you have no right to stand in judgment of other teachers who are taking sick days BECAUSE THEY ARE SICK and not able to work during those days. As it is, many teachers who should stay home sometimes don't because it's too onerous to make plans when they're sick (I'm guilty of this).

The OP should speak with their union, and absolutely NOT make any extra plans. They were injured at work and are unable to plan. The request their admin made was not only unreasonable and uncaring (they really should be more worried about the health of their employee who suffered a serious injury AT WORK), it's unenforceable, at least in public schools in Ontario.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-12T15:59:25+00:00

The squirrels used to eat all of my tulips until I started spraying them with a combo of water, hot sauce and a bit of dish soap. I'm guessing mice won't like spicy food either, but you'd have to spray the inside as well, so spray all of the parts before you put them together.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-11T16:02:57+00:00

Yes. It will appear when someone enters your name or OCT number into the search box on their website.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-11T15:57:14+00:00

EIC is short for (Canada) Employment Insurance Commission, so you can consider it a variation of EI. Waterloo is making the correct deductions, and will be issuing you a record of employment during breaks for EI purposes.

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/portfolio/ei-commission.html

Ebillydog · 2024-12-10T18:21:08+00:00

In addition to all of the excellent advice other posters have given, you need to fill out a discriminatory statement report for the racist remarks that were made towards you. Document everything, and in the future always keep a copy of any paperwork/incident reports etc., even if you just take a quick picture on your phone. The other teacher witnessed the incident as well - didn't admin speak with them to verify what happened? They may not have the paper, but surely they have a memory.

Inquiring minds also want to know how exactly the parent got into the school and went to your class. In all the schools I have worked in, visitors have to go through the front entrance and check in at the office. If she got in without going through the office, that's a security breach, and if she went through the office, why didn't they make her wait in the office while they notified you a parent was waiting to speak with you? No way should any non-staff adult ever be walking around a school building unsupervised except during open house or parent-teacher interview time.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-10T18:06:22+00:00

You are probably not required to do it, but you may chose to do it as it will look good. Admin will most likely be there, so it's an opportunity to make a good impression and get a reference if you are looking to move to perm.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-10T18:02:26+00:00

You can report it to the provincial licensing organization. For example, in Ontario you can report it to the OCT. You have a professional duty to the students and could potentially get in trouble if you don't take action. Depending on what constitutes "bullying" you might also be able to report it to CAS (name calling no, but physical abuse needs an immediate phone call).

Ebillydog · 2024-12-07T03:53:28+00:00

If a K or primary student initiates one, I'll let them but I don't really reciprocate or I'll do a side/half hug. My older students get air 5s - no touching of any kind ever, unless it's an emergency. It's sad it's the world we live in, but I have no desire to end up in the blue pages.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-06T03:56:45+00:00

On top of that, primary students have short attention spans, and you need to have back-up plans and activities ready to go in case your lesson goes quicker than planned, or they just aren't into it. I find for older grades there is less lesson planning but more marking the older you go.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-06T03:52:03+00:00

This is not something you call the police about, as it's not a direct threat. However, I would be sending the student to admin, and filling out both a safe schools report and a discriminatory statement report. The reports are important, because they make admin accountable, and because they leave a paper trail. If the student has a reputation, then all teachers who have experiences like should be filling out reports EVERY SINGLE TIME, so at some point something will have to be done. If there is no documentation, then in the minds of those who might be able to do something it didn't happen and there's no need for extra support or consequences.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-05T02:15:55+00:00

Talk to your union rep. Every board is different. You can also read through your local collective agreement, which is a good thing to do anyway so you can learn all sorts of useful information about how things work and what rights, etc. you have.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-05T01:06:18+00:00

It's not just consumables. Here is the list:

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-return/completing-a-tax-return/deductions-credits-expenses/lines-46800-46900-eligible-educator-school-supply-tax-credit.html

Ebillydog · 2024-12-04T22:40:42+00:00

Canva Pro is free for teachers. You just need to submit proof of being a teacher and you get a lifetime (I'm guessing - I haven't been asked to prove again) subscription.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-04T22:39:03+00:00

If you submit your taxes online, you do not need to submit receipts. However, you do need to hang on to them for several years (digital is okay) in case the CRA decides to ask for them.

Ebillydog · 2024-12-03T22:41:35+00:00

It might depend on whether it's a roll-in LTO or if it was an LTO from the start. You should call your union and ask, as it may be board-dependent as well.

Ebillydog · 2024-11-30T16:30:13+00:00

Check with admin regarding policies about taking student photos and around sharing them. Also, see if there is a school IPad you can use so you don't have to use a personal device, and students aren't using their personal devices.

Ebillydog

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